Fully-automated system for tax reporting, payment and refund and system for accessing tax information

ABSTRACT

A tax information requestor collects tax information. The tax information requestor connects electronically to an electronic intermediary and/or to a tax data provider. The tax information requestor collects electronically an electronic tax return and/or tax data of a taxpayer from the electronic intermediary. The tax information requestor collects electronically tax data from the tax data provider.  
     A tax information distributor collects tax information. The tax information distributor connects electronically to electronic intermediaries and/or to tax data providers. The tax information distributor collects electronically electronic tax returns and/or tax data of taxpayers from the electronic intermediaries. The tax information distributor collects electronically tax data of taxpayers from the tax data providers. The tax information distributor assembles collected electronic tax returns and/or tax data to obtain assembled tax information of taxpayers.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/045,945, filed May 8, 1997, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/073,027, filed May 7, 1998, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates generally to collecting, processing, compiling, and distributing information and data. More specifically, the invention relates to a method, an apparatus, and an article of manufacture for automated tax reporting, payment, and refund.

[0003] In recent years, an increasing amount of data and other information necessary to compute the federal, state, local, and foreign income tax liability of individual taxpayers and other taxpayers, including certain trusts, estates, corporations and partnerships, is available electronically and capable of being transmitted over telephone communication equipment or other electronic means to the taxpayer or the taxpayer's agent or representative. For example, payroll, bank statement, residential mortgage payment, and brokerage and mutual fund account information is prepared almost entirely on computers, and is capable of being transmitted electronically in standardized or other readable format. In addition, for data that is necessary to compute a taxpayer's liability but that may not at present be regularly transmitted to the taxpayer, such as the amount of donations made to charitable organizations, the information is generally entered into, and processed by, computers and could easily be transmitted to the taxpayer or the taxpayer's agent electronically using telephone communication equipment, by modem, or through the Internet. Thus, substantially all of the information necessary to compute most individuals' and many other taxpayers' income tax liability is readily available and capable of being transmitted electronically.

[0004] In addition, tax return preparation has become increasingly automated. Several computer programs are available for individual taxpayers to compute their federal income tax liability and generate completed tax returns (such as TurboTax, which is a registered trademark of Intuit, Inc.). Further, tax return professionals, who prepare over forty-nine percent of individual tax returns, routinely process the tax returns of millions of individuals and other taxpayers on computers with automated software. See Jim McTague, “Auditing the IRS,” Barron's 29 (Dec. 23, 1996); Internal Revenue Service, 1995 Data Book 3 (July 1996).

[0005] Moreover, few legal interpretational issues or methodology variations exist with respect to the income tax liability of individuals and other taxpayers whose taxable income, gain, loss, and deduction consist substantially of wages, interest, dividends, capital gains and losses, residential mortgage interest, state and local taxes, and other similar typical items. For taxpayers whose income tax liability consists substantially of these items, as is the case with many or most U.S. individual taxpayers, computation of income tax liability is generally a routine matter of collecting the relevant data, processing it, reflecting the data and ultimate calculations on the proper form or forms, and transmitting or otherwise sending the forms to the relevant taxing authorities.

[0006] Finally, taxing authorities have increasingly automated the tax collecting and return filing process. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) permits in certain situations the electronic filing of tax returns and the payment and refund of income taxes through electronic money transfers. For example, in 1997, thirteen million returns were filed electronically, and 4.2 million Form 1040EZ returns were filed by touch-tone phone. However, even with the ability to electronically file, less than 18% of all tax returns were filed electronically by Apr. 11, 1997. See Internal Revenue Service, “IRS Concludes Successful Tax Season” (Press Release) (Apr. 17, 1997). As a further example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,057 to Longfield shows a process for expediting tax refund payments through the use of a loan by an authorized financial institution. Accordingly, few technological, legal, or practical obstacles exist for the fully automated preparation and filing of federal and state tax returns for many individuals and other taxpayers, and further for the payment or refund of taxes.

[0007] However, despite these technological advances, the potential for fully-automated tax reporting has not yet been realized for several reasons. First, at present, it is still necessary for individuals and other taxpayers to collect and save hard copies of, or otherwise record, all of the data and other information needed to compute their tax liability. This information includes: IRS Forms W-2 from their employers; IRS Forms 1099 from their banks; each mutual fund in which interests are held, each broker in respect of dividends, interest and gross brokerage proceeds, and other persons from whom payments are received; IRS Forms 1098 in respect of residential mortgage interest paid; and canceled checks or other acknowledgments from charitable organizations.

[0008] Second, to prepare a tax return individually, even if a taxpayer purchases tax preparation software, installs it in a computer, learns to use the tax preparation software (and the relevant substantive tax law necessary to navigate through the software), the taxpayer must manually enter the tax liability information into the computer. Alternatively, even if the taxpayer hires an individual accountant, or other tax-return preparer, the taxpayer must deliver all of the hard copies of data and other tax liability information to the accountant, who, in turn, must manually enter this data information into a computer. For example, the process claimed in U.S. Patent No. 5,193,057 to Longfield must occur in the offices of an authorized tax return preparer who must manually input the taxpayer's tax information into a data processing machine.

[0009] Third and finally, taxpayers, at present, must print out or receive back completed income tax returns, and manually write checks for ultimate tax liability and mail or have mailed the entire package to the relevant taxing authorities. In certain circumstances, as mentioned above, tax returns may be filed electronically, and payments may be made electronically or refunds may be received electronically. However, this ability to file electronically is used sparsely. See Internal Revenue Service, “IRS Concludes Successful Tax Season,” (Press Release) (Apr. 17, 1997). Presumably, such sparse usage of the current electronic filing system is due to the laborious manual steps still required and that the modicum of automation offered by the current electronic filing system is not worth the effort to use it.

[0010] As a consequence of this manually intensive process, April 15 is a date of considerable concern to the U.S. individual taxpayer, not only because of the tax liability due on that day, but also because of the substantial time expenditures necessary to file annual federal, state, local, and foreign tax returns, even when the returns are prepared by a tax professional. For example, in fiscal 1995, U.S. taxpayers spent 5.3 billion hours fulfilling their tax responsibilities. See Jim McTague, “Auditing the IRS,” Barron's 29 (Dec. 23, 1996). For this reason, the federal income tax system has been the target of legislative proposals for substantial “simplification” that would reduce the reporting requirements of many taxpayers. However, in order to achieve this tax reporting simplification, the legislative proposals would generally make substantial alterations to the entire federal income tax system, with significant adverse consequences.

[0011] In addition, tax returns and other tax information are useful for many purposes other than filing a tax return. For example, before engaging in a transaction with a taxpayer, many types of entities require a taxpayer's tax return and/or other tax information. For example, a lender or a landlord often requires a tax return or other tax information of a taxpayer prior to entering into a business relationship with the taxpayer. Tax returns and other tax information are neither available nor readily accessible in electronic form. Consequently, such information must be stored, manually accessed, and manually duplicated by the taxpayer. Further, because the information is generally provided by the taxpayer, the recipient generally is unable to ensure that the information is accurate and unaltered. Currently, there is no system or technique to access such tax information electronically.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] It is an object of the present invention to eliminate many of the inconveniences associated with the filing of federal, state, local, and foreign income tax returns and the payment of any associated tax liability or receipt of tax refund in accordance with to the tax laws.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to reduce error in and the cost associated with the filing of tax returns.

[0014] A further object of the present invention is to eliminate the need for hard copies of all or virtually all intermediate tax reporting forms, and thereby to realize savings in paper, time, and cost.

[0015] An additional object of the present invention is to provide a system for electronically accessing tax information.

[0016] The above objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by a method, an apparatus, and an article of manufacture for fully-automated tax reporting, payment, and refund and for electronically accessing tax information. The method comprises: connecting electronically to tax data providers; collecting electronically tax data from the tax data providers; processing electronically the tax data collected electronically from the tax data providers to obtain processed tax data; preparing electronically an electronic tax return using the processed tax data; connecting electronically to taxing authorities; filing electronically the electronic tax return with the taxing authorities; connecting electronically to a financial institution; and paying or receiving electronically tax liability or refund, respectively, between the financial institution and the taxing authorities.

[0017] Further, the apparatus of the present invention comprises a general purpose computer programmed with software to operate the general purpose computer in accordance with the present invention. In particular, the apparatus comprises: means for connecting electronically to tax data providers; means for collecting electronically tax data from the tax data providers; means for processing electronically the tax data collected electronically from the tax data providers to obtain processed tax data; means for preparing electronically an electronic tax return using the processed tax data; means for connecting electronically to taxing authorities; means for filing electronically the electronic tax return with the taxing authorities; means for connecting electronically to a financial institution; and means for paying or receiving electronically tax liability or refund, respectively, between the financial institution and the taxing authorities.

[0018] Still further, the article of manufacture of the present invention comprises a computer-readable medium embodying a computer program. For the present invention, the computer-readable medium embodying the computer program comprises code segments to control a general purpose computer to perform the method of the present invention. Non-limiting examples of a “computer-readable medium” include a magnetic hard disk, a floppy disk, an optical disk, a magnetic tape, a memory chip, and a carrier wave used to carry electronic data, such as those used in transmitting and receiving electronic mail or in accessing an electronic data network, such as the Internet. Further, non-limiting examples of “code segments” include software, instructions, computer programs, or any means for controlling a general purpose computer.

[0019] In particular, the computer-readable medium embodying a computer program comprises code segments for: connecting electronically to tax data providers; collecting electronically tax data from the tax data providers; processing electronically the tax data collected electronically from the tax data providers to obtain processed tax data; preparing electronically electronic tax returns using the processed tax data; connecting electronically to taxing authorities; filing electronically the electronic tax return with the taxing authorities; connecting electronically to a financial institution; and paying or receiving electronically tax liability or refund, respectively, between the financial institution and the taxing authorities.

[0020] In addition, the invention includes a method for collecting tax information by a tax information requestor comprising the steps of connecting electronically the tax information requestor to an electronic intermediary and/or to a tax data provider; collecting electronically an electronic tax return and/or tax data of a taxpayer from the electronic intermediary; and collecting electronically electronic tax returns and/or tax data from the tax data provider. The method further comprises the step of performing a check of the taxpayer using the electronic tax return and/or tax data collected electronically.

[0021] Further, the invention includes a method for collecting tax information by a tax information distributor comprising the steps of: connecting electronically the tax information distributor to a plurality of electronic intermediaries and/or to a plurality of tax data providers; collecting electronically electronic tax returns of taxpayers and/or tax data of taxpayers from the electronic intermediaries; collecting electronically electronic tax returns of taxpayers and/or tax data of taxpayers from the tax data providers; and assembling collected electronic tax returns of taxpayers and/or tax data of taxpayers to obtain assembled tax information of taxpayers. The method further comprises the steps of: connecting electronically the tax information distributor to a tax information requestor; and providing electronically the assembled tax information to the tax information requestor.

[0022] The system of the invention includes a computer system comprising a computer-readable medium having code segments to operate a computer in accordance with the invention.

[0023] The apparatus of the invention includes a computer comprising a computer-readable medium having code segments to operate the computer in accordance with the invention.

[0024] The article of manufacture of the invention includes a computer-readable medium having code segments to operate a computer in accordance with the invention.

[0025] Moreover, the above objects and advantages of the present invention are illustrative, and not exhaustive, of those which can be achieved by the present invention. Thus, these and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the description herein or can be learned from practicing the invention, both as embodied herein and as modified in view of any variations which may be apparent to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026]FIG. 1 illustrates the procedure for a first embodiment of the invention.

[0027]FIG. 2 illustrates the relationships for the first embodiment of the invention.

[0028]FIG. 3 illustrates the relationships for a second embodiment of the invention.

[0029]FIG. 4 illustrates the relationships for a third embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] The description is divided into three exemplary embodiments. In the first embodiment, an electronic intermediary generates and files a tax return. In the second embodiment, a tax information requestor electronically collects tax information. In the third embodiment, a tax information distributor electronically collects tax information and distributes assembled tax information to a tax information requestor.

[0031] First Embodiment

[0032] Referring now to the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters refer to similar reference parts throughout the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 depict the procedure used in the preferred embodiment for a method, an apparatus, and an article of manufacture for fully-automated tax reporting, payment, and refund.

[0033] In step 11, the taxpayer 20 provides the electronic intermediary 21 with information on tax data providers. As used hereinafter, the term “taxpayer” refers to an individual or other entity, such as a trust, estate, corporation, or partnership, who has tax liability or must file a tax return. The term “electronic intermediary” refers to a data processing system comprising a general purpose computer and a computer program, as described above, for performing the invention. The term “tax data provider” refers to each party that has tax information relevant to the taxpayer's tax liability or tax reporting obligations. Non-limiting examples of tax data providers include the taxpayer's employers 22, partnerships, banks 23, savings and loans institutions, mortgage institutions, credit card bureaus, thrift institutions, security brokerage firms 24, mutual fund holding institutions, charities 25, and federal, state, local, and foreign taxing authorities 27.

[0034] The information provided by the taxpayer to the electronic intermediary may include identification, such as the taxpayer's social security number, so that electronic data networks, such as the Internet, or electronic data bases may be searched by the electronic intermediary for the taxpayer's tax data. Alternatively, the taxpayer could specifically identify the tax data providers and could include information on how to contact the tax data providers electronically, if the electronic intermediary cannot automatically search for and locate the tax data providers. Additionally, the taxpayer can provide the electronic intermediary with authorization to contact and receive information from the tax data providers. Moreover, the taxpayer can provide the electronic intermediary with information concerning basic questions designed to identify special tax cases. For example, the taxpayer could be asked whether the taxpayer has donated money or other items to charities. If the taxpayer has donated, the electronic intermediary then notes that these charities need to be electronically contacted for collection of tax data.

[0035] The taxpayer can provide the electronic intermediary with the information on the tax data providers in a number of ways. For example, the electronic intermediary could prompt the taxpayer for the information, and the taxpayer could provide the information using an input means. Non-limiting examples of the input means include: a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, and a telephone touch-tone pad. In FIG. 2, the communication between the taxpayer 20 and the electronic intermediary 21 is indicated by link 31. In the preferred embodiment, this link is an electronic link. Non-limiting examples of such an electronic link include: input means for a computer, a modem, telephone communication equipment, and an electronic data network, such as the Internet.

[0036] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the taxpayer has control over the electronic intermediary. For example, the electronic intermediary could be a pre-packaged computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium available in a retail market. In this case, the taxpayer purchases the electronic intermediary from the retail market and installs the electronic intermediary on the taxpayer's general purpose computer. The taxpayer then provides the information on the tax data providers as well as other information to the electronic intermediary installed on the taxpayer's general purpose computer.

[0037] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the electronic intermediary is controlled by a tax return preparer institution, such as a professional tax preparation company, an accounting firm, or an individual accountant. In this embodiment, the tax return preparer is authorized by the taxpayer to collect, compute, prepare, and file the taxpayer's tax return, and to debit or credit the taxpayer's bank account for any tax liability or refund, respectively. The granting of the authorization by the taxpayer to the tax return preparer to perform these functions for the taxpayer can be implemented in a number of ways. Non-limiting examples of such a granting include: in person; through the mail; by facsimile; or electronically using a general purpose computer and a modem connected to a general purpose computer with a modem at the financial institution, and connected either through telephone communication equipment or an electronic data network, such as the Internet. Because the tax return preparer controls the electronic intermediary in this alternative embodiment, the tax return preparer ensures that the electronic intermediary receives the appropriate information required, such as the electronic location of the tax data providers, and information to determine whether the taxpayer has a special tax case.

[0038] In step 12, the electronic intermediary electronically collects tax data from the tax data providers using electronic links. The electronic intermediary connects electronically to each tax data provider that has tax data pertaining to the taxpayer using the electronic links. Referring to FIG. 2, the electronic intermediary 21 electronically connects to the taxpayer's employers, 22 through electronic links 32, to the taxpayer's banks 23 through electronic links 33, to the taxpayer's brokerage firms 24 through electronic links 34, to the taxpayer's charities 25 through electronic links 35, to taxing authorities 27 through electronic links 37, and to the taxpayer's other tax data providers 26 through electronic links 36. FIG. 2 is illustrative, and the electronic intermediary 21 can connect electronically with and collect tax data electronically from other tax data providers, as discussed above in step 11.

[0039] In FIG. 2, the electronic links 32-37 can be provided in a number of ways. Non-limiting examples of electronic links used to connect electronically the electronic intermediary and the tax data providers include: a general purpose computer electronically connected to telephone communication equipment using, for example, a modem or to an electronic data network, such as the Internet; or a computer-readable medium for transferring and receiving the tax data.

[0040] Non-limiting examples of the tax data electronically collected from the tax data providers include the following: a payroll statement, a bank statement, a savings and loan statement, a mortgage statement, a credit card bureau statement, a thrift institution statement, a brokerage account statement, a mutual fund statement, or a charity statement.

[0041] Alternatively, the electronic intermediary can connect electronically with the IRS, and receive the tax data from the IRS. In this alternative embodiment, the tax data providers have already provided the tax data to the IRS, and the electronic intermediary obtains the tax data from the IRS, and not the tax data providers. Further, the electronic intermediary can connect electronically with other taxing authorities possessing the taxpayer's tax data. In this case, the electronic intermediary receives the tax data from the taxing authorities instead of the tax data providers.

[0042] Hence, with the electronic collection of tax data as in step 12, the invention eliminates the current requirement that a taxpayer manually collect the tax data, eliminates the current requirement that a taxpayer manually enter such tax data onto a tax return or into a computer, and eliminates the need for all, or virtually all, intermediate hard copies of tax data, thereby saving paper, time, and cost.

[0043] In step 13, the electronic intermediary processes the tax data obtained electronically from the tax data providers in step 12. In the present invention, step 13 can be implemented using a computer program similar to the computer programs currently available in the market place, such as TurboTax, which is a registered trademark of Intuit, Inc. Although step 13 can be implemented with current technology, the current technology requires that the tax data and other information relevant to the taxpayer be inputted manually. With the present invention, this information is obtained as described above in steps 11 and 12.

[0044] Further, in step 13, the electronic intermediary processes the tax data by performing the appropriate tax computations. Non-limiting examples of appropriate tax computations include: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to determine the taxpayer's gross income, relevant deductions, net taxable income, and tax liability. As an illustration, the electronic intermediary compiles the home mortgage interest paid by the taxpayer and reported as tax data by the financial institutions to the electronic intermediary and determines the taxpayer's relevant deduction for the home mortgage interest paid to the financial institutions.

[0045] In step 14, the electronic intermediary prepares electronic tax returns using the processed tax data from step 13. Similar to step 13, step 14 can be implemented using current technology. In practicing the invention, the electronic tax returns are prepared with respect to the particular taxing authorities. For example, if the taxing authority is the IRS, the electronic tax return will correspond to the appropriate federal tax return, such as the Form 1040 or the Form 1040EZ.

[0046] In step 15, the electronic intermediary electronically files the electronic tax returns prepared in step 14 with the taxing authorities. Referring to FIG. 2, the electronic intermediary 21 electronically connects with the taxing authorities 27 using electronic link 37, and transmits the electronic tax forms to the taxing authorities 27 over the electronic links 37. In practicing the invention, the taxing authority can be the IRS, or a state, local or foreign taxing authority.

[0047] In step 16, the electronic intermediary determines whether the taxpayer owes any taxes to each taxing authority. If the taxpayer does owe to a particular taxing authority, the process proceeds to step 17, and if the taxpayer does not owe and will receive a refund, the process proceeds to step 18. If the taxpayer neither owes nor is entitled to a refund, the process proceeds directly to step 19, which is not shown in FIG. 1.

[0048] In step 17, after determining in step 16 that the taxpayer owes taxes to a particular taxing authority, the electronic intermediary authorizes a financial institution to debit the taxpayer's account with the financial institution for the taxes owed and to transmit the funds to the taxing authority. Referring to FIG. 2, the electronic intermediary 21 electronically connects to a financial institution using an electronic link, such as one of the taxpayer's banks 23 using one of the electronic links 33. The electronic intermediary authorizes the taxpayer's bank, for example, to debit, or cause to be debited, the taxes owed from the taxpayer's bank account in the taxpayer's bank 23. Further, the electronic intermediary 21 authorizes the taxpayer's bank 23 through the electronic link 33 to transmit funds from the taxpayer's bank 23 to the taxing authority 27 over electronic link 38. Additionally, the electronic intermediary 21 can communicate this information to the taxing authority 27 using electronic link 37.

[0049] As an alternative to using the taxpayer's bank as a financial institution, the electronic intermediary can authorize any financial institution, which is able to connect electronically to the taxing authority, to debit the taxpayer's account with the financial institution and to transmit funds to the taxing authority for the amount owed by the taxpayer. Hence, in step 17, the electronic intermediary electronically authorizes the taxpayer's financial institution to pay the taxing authority the taxes owed from funds in the taxpayer's account.

[0050] In step 18, after determining in step 16 that the taxpayer does not owe taxes to a particular taxing authority and is entitled to a refund from the taxing authority, the electronic intermediary authorizes the taxing authority to credit the refund electronically to the taxpayer's account with a financial institution. Referring to FIG. 2, the electronic intermediary authorizes the taxing authority 27 over electronic link 37 to credit the taxpayer's financial institution using an electronic link, such as one of the taxpayer's banks 23 using electronic link 38. If the taxing authority is the IRS, this step can be accomplished using the Treasury Department's Automated Clearinghouse (“ACH”) system. Similar technology can be used for implementing this step with respect to other taxing authorities. As an alternative to using the taxpayer's bank as the financial institution, the electronic intermediary can authorize the taxing authority to credit the taxpayer's refund to any financial institution which is able to connect electronically to the taxing authority. Hence, in step 18, the electronic intermediary electronically authorizes the taxing authority to credit the taxpayer's refund electronically to the taxpayer's financial institution.

[0051] In step 19, after the electronic intermediary authorizes the payment of the taxes owed in step 17 or the collection of the taxpayer's refund in step 18, the electronic intermediary electronically prepares a final report. The final report can be embodied in a number of ways, including electronically or on paper. Non-limiting examples of what the final report can include are the following: the tax data electronically received from the tax data providers in step 12, the processed tax data from step 13, the electronic tax returns prepared in step 14, the data associated with the electronic filing of the taxpayer's tax returns in step 15, and the information associated with the payment of the taxpayer's tax liability in step 17 or the receipt of the taxpayer's refund in step 18.

[0052] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, instead of the electronic intermediary preparing the tax returns in step 14, filing the tax returns in step 15, and either authorizing the payment of the taxes owed in step 17 or authorizing the receipt of the tax refund in step 18, the taxpayer can choose to do these steps manually. In this alternative embodiment, the electronic intermediary performs steps 11-14 and 19.

[0053] Second Embodiment

[0054] In the first embodiment, in general and referring to FIG. 2, the electronic intermediary 21 electronically collects tax information for the taxpayer 20 from a number of tax data providers 22-27, prepares an electronic tax return, and files the electronic tax return with taxing authorities 27. The electronic tax return prepared by the electronic intermediary 21 and other tax information (whether or not incorporated in the electronic tax return) is useful to others besides the taxing authorities 27. The second embodiment focuses on this additional usefulness of the electronic tax return, as well as tax data provided by the tax data providers.

[0055] Tax information has many uses other than merely to permit a taxpayer to compute his or her taxes. (As used in the second and third embodiments, “tax information” includes, for example, an electronic tax return and/or tax data.) Tax information can be used to perform a check on the taxpayer. As an example of a check, the decision by a bank or other financial institution to make a mortgage loan or otherwise extend credit to a taxpayer is often based on the wages of the taxpayer and other taxable income reported to the taxpayer on IRS Forms W-2 and 1099 and reported by the taxpayer to the IRS on Form 1040. As another example of a check on a taxpayer, other persons (e.g., a cooperative board, a condominium board, an employer, a potential partner or other joint venturer, or for taxpayer that is a business entity, a potential acquirer, a target, or a merger partner) also rely on tax information to make decisions. Examples of entities finding tax information useful include: a prospective lender; a landlord; an employer; a director of a cooperative board; a director of a condominium board; a potential business partner or other joint venturer; and for taxpayer that is a business entity, a potential acquirer, a target, or a merger partner.

[0056] Currently, in order for a taxpayer to provide his or her own tax information to a third party, the taxpayer must have saved hard copies of the tax forms and tax returns, must manually copy the tax forms and tax returns, and must manually mail or deliver the tax forms and tax returns to the third party. Moreover, it is currently difficult for the third party to verify that the information is accurate and that the tax forms and tax returns have not been altered.

[0057] With the invention, a taxpayer can electronically distribute or direct the distribution of the tax information of the taxpayer to a tax information requestor or permit the tax information requestor to electronically collect the information. The phrase “tax information requester” includes a data processing system comprising a general purpose computer and a computer program for performing the invention.

[0058]FIG. 3 illustrates the second embodiment of the invention. The taxpayer 20 directs the electronic intermediary 21 to electronically provide a tax information requestor 40 with the electronic tax return and/or tax data provided to the electronic intermediary 21 by tax data providers 43-44. The electronic intermediary 21 is electronically coupled to the tax information requestor 40 via an electronic link 41, which is similar to the electronic links 32-37.

[0059] As an option, with the consent of the taxpayer, the tax data providers electronically provide the tax data and/or electronic tax return directly to the tax information requestor. The taxpayer 20 electronically directs one or more tax data providers 43-44 to provide the tax data and/or electronic tax returns directly to the tax information requester 40. The taxpayer 20 can direct the tax data providers via the electronic intermediary 21 or another electronic link, such as a secure Internet connection. The electronic intermediary 21 is coupled to the tax data providers 43-44 via electronic links 45-46, respectively. The electronic links 45-46 are similar to the electronic links 32-37. The tax data can be provided to the tax information requester 40 via the prompting of the one or more tax data providers by the taxpayer 20 or via a request to the one or more tax data providers from the tax information requester 40.

[0060] With the electronic tax return and/or tax data received from the electronic intermediary 21 and/or tax data providers 43-44, the tax information requester performs a check on the taxpayer.

[0061] Although only two tax data providers are illustrated in FIG. 3, any number of tax data providers can be used with the invention.

[0062] Third Embodiment

[0063] In the second embodiment, tax information is distributed to a tax information requestor via an electronic intermediary and/or tax data providers. In the third embodiment, tax information is distributed via a tax information distributor.

[0064] In addition to the benefits of tax information discussed above for the second embodiment, tax information can also permit financial institutions, merchants, and other consumer product companies to target their goods and/or services to particular taxpayers. For example, an on-line electronic broker can target its marketing campaign to taxpayers that have disproportionately high amounts of short-term capital gains and losses. These taxpayers likely engage in significant trading activity and are likely best served by an on-line electronic broker. As another example, merchants of luxury goods can target their marketing efforts to households with relatively high amounts of taxable incomes. As a further example, high-end real estate brokers can solicit taxpayers with significant mortgage interest expenses. Presently, tax information is not readily available or in an accessible or useful form for compilation.

[0065] With the invention, taxpayers can electronically distribute or direct the distribution of their own tax information to a tax information distributor or permit the tax information distributor to electronically collect the tax information. The tax information distributor assembles and electronically distributes the tax information to a tax information requestor. The term “tax information distributor” includes data processing system comprising a general purpose computer and a computer program for performing the invention.

[0066]FIG. 4 illustrates the third embodiment of the invention. A tax information distributor 50 collects tax information from electronic intermediaries 21 and 63-64 and tax data providers 43-44. The electronic intermediaries 63-64 are similar to the electronic intermediary 21. The electronic intermediaries 63-64 are linked to taxpayers 61-62, respectively, via links 65-66, respectively. Links 65-66 are similar to link 31. The electronic intermediaries 21 and 63-64 are electronically coupled to the tax information distributor 50 via electronic links 51 and 67-68, respectively. Electronic links 51 and 67-68 are similar to electronic links 32-37. The tax data providers 43 and 44 are electronically coupled to the tax information distributor 50 via electronic links 53 and 54. Electronic links 53 and 54 are similar to electronic links 32-37.

[0067] Each taxpayer 20 and 61-62 directs an electronic intermediary 21 and 63-64, respectively, and/or electronically directs one or more tax data providers 43-44 to provide the tax data and/or electronic tax returns directly to the tax information distributor 50. The tax data providers 43 and 44 are electronically coupled to the electronic intermediaries as in the first and second embodiments, but the connections are not illustrated in FIG. 4 to avoid confusion. Further, depending on the type of tax information not every electronic intermediary is coupled to every tax data provider.

[0068] The tax information distributor 50 assembles the tax information to obtain assembled tax information. The assembled tax information includes for example: individual tax information on or with respect to each taxpayer, such as the electronic tax returns and/or the tax data electronically collected by the tax information distributor; demographic and/or statistical information regarding the taxpayers or subsets of the taxpayers; unmanipulated tax information; and manipulated tax information. For example, statistical information can include: statistics on household income obtained from a number of taxpayers or from a single taxpayer; historic or geographic trends in types or amounts of income, as obtained from a number of taxpayers or from a single taxpayer. The assembled tax information is preferably prepared in a readable or presentable format, which can include text, tables, and graphs, and is preferably ready for distribution via an electronic link.

[0069] The tax information distributor 50 distributes the assembled tax information to the tax information requestor 40 via an electronic link 52, which is similar to electronic links 32-37. The tax information distributor 50 preferably distributes the assembled tax information pursuant to a request from the tax information requestor 40. The tax information requestor 40 preferably uses the assembled tax information to identify and target specific taxpayers or groups of taxpayers for marketing and other purposes. The distributed assembled tax information is preferably distributed with the consent of each taxpayer. The distributed assembled tax information can be from a single source, multiple sources, and/or a compilation from multiple sources, where the sources are the electronic intermediaries 21 and 63-64 and the tax data providers 43-44. The distributed assembled tax information can be for a single taxpayer or multiple taxpayers.

[0070] Although only three electronic intermediaries are illustrated in FIG. 4, any number of electronic intermediaries can be used with the invention. Although only two tax data providers are illustrated in FIG. 4, any number of tax data providers can be used with the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for collecting tax information by a tax information requester comprising the steps of: connecting electronically said tax information requester to an electronic intermediary and/or to a tax data provider; collecting electronically an electronic tax return and/or tax data of a taxpayer from said electronic intermediary; and collecting electronically an electronic tax return and/or tax data from said tax data provider.
 2. A method as in claim 1 , wherein said tax information requestor is electronically connected to said electronic intermediary using an electronic link, and wherein said tax information requestor is electronically connected to said tax data provider using an electronic link.
 3. A method as in claim 2 , wherein said electronic link comprises telephone communication equipment.
 4. A method as in claim 2 , wherein said electronic link comprises an electronic data network.
 5. An apparatus as in claim 4 , wherein said electronic data network is the Internet.
 6. An apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein said tax data provider is an employer, a partnership, a bank, a savings and loan institution, a mortgage institution, a credit card bureau, a thrift institution, a securities brokerage firm, a mutual find holding institution, a charity, the Internal Revenue Service, or a taxing authority.
 7. A method as in claim 1 , wherein said tax data is a payroll statement, a bank statement, a savings and loan statement, a mortgage statement, a credit card bureau statement, a thrift institution statement, a brokerage account statement, a mutual fund statement, a charity statement, or a statement relevant for tax purposes.
 8. A method as in claim 1 , further comprising the step of performing a check of said taxpayer using said electronic tax return and/or tax data collected electronically.
 9. A computer system for performing the method of claim 1 .
 10. A computer-readable medium comprising a computer program for performing the method of claim 1 .
 11. An apparatus for collecting tax information by a tax information requestor comprising: means for connecting electronically said tax information requestor to an electronic intermediary and/or to a tax data provider; means for collecting electronically an electronic tax return and/or tax data from said electronic intermediary; and means for collecting electronically an electronic tax return and/or tax data from said tax data provider.
 12. An apparatus as in claim 11 , further comprising means for performing a check of said taxpayer using said electronic tax return and/or tax data collected electronically.
 13. A computer-readable medium embodying a computer program for collecting tax information by a tax information requestor, said computer program comprising code segments for: connecting electronically said tax information requestor to an electronic intermediary and/or to a tax data provider; collecting electronically an electronic tax return and/or tax data of a taxpayer from said electronic intermediary; and collecting electronically an electronic tax return and/or tax data from said tax data provider.
 14. An computer-readable medium as in claim 13 , further comprising code segments for performing a check of said taxpayer using said electronic tax return and/or tax data collected electronically.
 15. A method for collecting tax information by a tax information distributor comprising the steps of: connecting electronically said tax information distributor to a plurality of electronic intermediaries and/or to a plurality of tax data providers; collecting electronically electronic tax returns of taxpayers and/or tax data of taxpayers from said electronic intermediaries; collecting electronically electronic tax returns of taxpayers and/or tax data of taxpayers from said tax data providers; assembling collected electronic tax returns of taxpayers and/or tax data of taxpayers to obtain assembled tax information of taxpayers.
 16. A method as in claim 15 , wherein said tax information distributor is electronically connected to said electronic intermediary using an electronic link, and wherein said tax information distributor is electronically connected to said tax data provider using an electronic link.
 17. A method as in claim 16 , wherein said electronic link comprises telephone communication equipment.
 18. A method as in claim 16 , wherein said electronic link comprises an electronic data network.
 19. An apparatus as in claim 18 , wherein said electronic data network is the Internet.
 20. An apparatus as in claim 15 , wherein said at least one tax data provider is an employer, a partnership, a bank, a savings and loan institution, a mortgage institution, a credit card bureau, a thrift institution, a securities brokerage firm, a mutual find holding institution, a charity, the Internal Revenue Service, or a taxing authority.
 21. A method as in claim 15 , wherein said tax data is a payroll statement, a bank statement, a savings and loan statement, a mortgage statement, a credit card bureau statement, a thrift institution statement, a brokerage account statement, a mutual fund statement, a charity statement, or a statement relevant for tax purposes.
 22. A method as in claim 15 , wherein said assembled tax information comprises demographics and/or statistics regarding said taxpayers.
 23. A method as in claim 15 , further comprising the steps of: connecting electronically said tax information distributor to a tax information requestor; providing electronically a portion of said assembled tax information to said tax information requestor.
 24. A method as in claim 23 , wherein said tax information distributor is electronically connected to said tax information requestor using an electronic link.
 25. An apparatus as in claim 24 , wherein said electronic data network is the Internet.
 26. A computer system for performing the method of claim 15 .
 27. A computer-readable medium comprising a computer program for performing the method of claim 15 .
 28. An apparatus for collecting tax information by a tax information distributor comprising: means for connecting electronically said tax information distributor to a plurality of electronic intermediaries and/or to a plurality of tax data providers; means for collecting electronically electronic tax returns of taxpayers and/or tax data of taxpayers from said electronic intermediaries; means for collecting electronically electronic tax returns of taxpayers and/or tax data of taxpayers from said tax data providers; means for assembling collected electronic tax returns of taxpayers and/or tax data of taxpayers to obtain assembled tax information of taxpayers.
 29. An apparatus as in claim 28 , further comprising the steps of: means for connecting electronically said tax information distributor to a tax information requestor; means for providing electronically a portion of said assembled tax information to said tax information requester.
 30. A computer-readable medium embodying a computer program for collecting tax information by a tax information distributor, said computer program comprising code segments for: connecting electronically said tax information distributor to a plurality of electronic intermediaries and/or to a plurality of tax data providers; collecting electronically electronic tax returns of taxpayers and/or tax data of taxpayers from said electronic intermediaries; collecting electronically electronic tax returns of taxpayers and/or tax data of taxpayers from said tax data providers; assembling collected electronic tax returns of taxpayers and/or tax data of taxpayers to obtain assembled tax information of taxpayers.
 31. A computer-readable medium as in claim 30 , further comprising code segments for: connecting electronically said tax information distributor to a tax information requestor; providing electronically a portion of said assembled tax information to said tax information requestor.
 32. A method for collecting tax information by a tax information requestor comprising the steps of: connecting electronically said tax information requestor to a tax information distributor; collecting electronically assembled tax information of at least one taxpayer from said tax information distributor, said assembled tax information of at least one taxpayer based on at least one electronic tax return of said at least one taxpayer and/or tax data of said at least one taxpayer obtained electronically by said tax information distributor.
 33. A computer system for performing the method of claim 32 .
 34. A computer-readable medium comprising a computer program for performing the method of claim 32 . 